Feet on the Floor

Mary Huhn

Hi, everyone. It's Mary Huhn with you here for the Mindful Living Initiative at Berkeley Square. Today, we're talking about one of my absolute favorite practices—grounding. Now, if you're brand new or maybe just curious, grounding is honestly as simple as it gets. It's about tuning in to the present moment through your body—like really feeling your feet press into the floor, or maybe noticing the way your back rests against a chair. Nothing complicated, no need to sit cross-legged on a mountaintop!

Mary Huhn

The point of grounding, at its heart, is to help us return—again and again—to what's here, right now, instead of spinning off into worry or frustration or... you know, those endless lists in our minds. When I started learning grounding years ago, I realized it’s kind of this anchor. You notice, “Hey, my feet are on the ground. The chair is holding me up. I’m safe in this moment. I’m alive in this moment.” That’s mindful engagement, right there.

Mary Huhn

I’ll tell you—let me share a story about the value of this, because, honestly, I need this stuff just as much as anyone else. Years ago, I was having, oh, one of those terrible days at work. My mind was just racing. I was frustrated—overwhelmed, really. I think we all know that feeling, right? I was about to snap at someone, to be honest. But, just before I did, I remembered to pause. I stopped, planted both my feet firmly, and I just felt the contact—the shoes touching floor, the little ache in my heel, even the way my toes curled up. I stayed with that sensation for a moment. It wasn’t magic, but it was enough. Just a few seconds, and my breath slowed down. My irritation softened. I could go back into that day—into those conversations—with a little more steadiness and, well, maybe even a bit of compassion. It definitely didn’t solve all my problems, but it sure helped me respond instead of react.

Mary Huhn

So, that's the heart of grounding. There's no special skill required—just a willingness to feel what’s already here, with you, in this body.

Mary Huhn

Now, something I hear a lot—and maybe you’re thinking it now—is, “Well, Mary, what if I can’t get my feet flat on the floor? What if my body doesn’t cooperate the way it used to?” And you know, I get that. Grounding is flexible. These exercises can be adapted for, well, just about anybody. Maybe your feet don’t touch the ground, or maybe you find it easier to focus somewhere else. That’s okay. You can try noticing your breath, or the way your hands rest on your knees. Even feeling your back against the chair counts. It’s about finding the anchor that works for you in your particular body today.

Mary Huhn

Let me give you an example, right from here at Berkeley Square. There’s a resident named Ruth—she's inspiring, to be honest. Ruth sometimes gets anxious before mealtimes, especially if there’s going to be a lot of people at the table. What she does is this really simple thing before heading out—she sits, presses her feet into the floor—doesn’t have to be hard, just enough to notice—and lets herself feel that support. She says it gives her a moment of calm before walking into the dining room. She told me once that she actually enjoys the meal more when she takes those thirty seconds to ground herself. It helps her savor the company, instead of feeling swept away by nerves.

Mary Huhn

And that's part of why these are such good practices for retirement communities, or honestly, for anyone. Whether we’re full of energy or wrestling with aches and pains—these techniques are accessible. There’s no “right way.” If you can breathe, you can ground. If you can notice sensation anywhere—your hands, your shoulders, even the fabric of your clothing—you’ve got what you need. For some folks, just resting a hand on their chest or belly does the trick. It’s yours to shape and experiment with.

Mary Huhn

Let’s think about how these grounding moments might actually look in our day. Maybe you recall a time today when you felt a little restless—maybe you were waiting for the phone to ring or wishing the TV would just work for once. What if, in those moments, you switched your attention out of your head and into your body? Tuning in to the pressure of your body in the chair, or the feeling of your hands on your lap. Sometimes, for me, it’s just the texture of the chair’s fabric or the gentle heaviness of my arms. Those “little” sensations can actually anchor you in the present and—this is the part that always surprises me—they can offer real emotional steadiness, even if the situation around you doesn’t change.

Mary Huhn

I wonder—if you pause and reflect, when today did you feel the least calm? Maybe it was right before an appointment, or during the news, or some other moment. What might have happened if you took a few seconds for grounding—would it have shifted your experience at all? Just something to chew on.

Mary Huhn

The beautiful thing about grounding is that it isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong.” It’s about noticing what’s here, with kindness. Those small moments of connection—to yourself, to your breath, to that spot where the body meets the world—can add up to a lot of calm over time. So, as you go about your day, maybe try to catch one of those moments when things feel a bit scattered, and see what happens if you bring your attention to your feet, your hands, your breath, whatever works best for you.

Mary Huhn

I’ll leave you with this: there’s no perfect way to practice, only your way. Thanks for joining me and sharing this little journey into grounding. I hope you find a moment of calm for yourself today, and just so you know, we’ll keep exploring more ways to support mindful living in future episodes. Until next time, take good care.